FARMLAND PRESERVATION

The continued loss of farmland to development and suburban sprawl
is creating a logistical and economic challenge for farmers. Often
farmers must piece together fragmented parcels to meet their land needs.
Yet even these fragmented farm fields are disappearing, and those that
remain are increasingly expensive to buy. The escalating loss of farmland
is threatening not just the viability of an industry but also the state's
rural legacy and landscape.